Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are a member of the fungi kingdom, which includes lichen, yeast, plant rusts, moulds, and smut. The first mushrooms are estimated to have evolved on Earth between 715 and 810 million years ago, much earlier than previously thought. Fungi are distinct from plants in that they cannot photosynthesise and are reliant on external food sources for energy. They also contain a substance called chitin in their cell walls, which is also found in the external skeletons of insects and other arthropods. Mushrooms are the fruit body of fungi, living a short life span to produce spores so that the fungus can spread.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Family | Fungi |
| Scientific Name | Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes |
| Common Name | Mushroom |
| Other Names | Toadstool, Bolete, Truffle, Puffball, Stinkhorn, Morel, Agarics |
| Cap | Pileus |
| Stem | Stipe |
| Gills | Lamellae |
| Spores | Basidiospores |
| Development | Develops from a primordium or pinhead, less than 2mm in diameter |
| Habitat | Found in meadows and woods in the subtropics and tropics, usually in soils rich in humus and plant debris |
| History | Archaeological evidence of use in the Stone Age, Ancient Greece, Mayan and Viking cultures |
| Medicinal Use | Used in European medicinal literature as early as 1799 |
| Bioluminescence | Some species emit light, often green in colour |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are part of the fungi family
Mushrooms are the fruit body of fungi, living a short life span to produce spores so that the fungus can spread. The gills of a mushroom produce microscopic spores, which help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. The gills of a mushroom are the feathery material on the underside of the cap, and the more open the gills, the older the mushroom.
Mushrooms have been consumed and used for various purposes for thousands of years. There are hundreds of species of mushrooms consumed today, and they have likely been foraged since prehistoric times. Archaeological evidence of mushrooms being used for spiritual purposes dates back to as early as 10,000 BCE, and they have been documented in many cultures, including the Ancient Greeks, the Mayans, and the Vikings.
There are many different types of mushrooms, including edible, hallucinogenic, and poisonous varieties. Of the estimated 10,000 species of mushrooms, 216 species of fungi are thought to be hallucinogenic, and some have been used medicinally for thousands of years.
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The first mushrooms evolved 715-810 million years ago
Mushrooms, the fleshy spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, have been consumed by humans for centuries. They come in a variety of shapes and colours, and some species are even bioluminescent.
The first mushrooms are believed to have evolved between 715 and 810 million years ago, much earlier than previously thought. This discovery was made by a team of researchers led by Professor Steeve Bonneville from the Université libre de Bruxelles. They examined a fossil from a piece of shale rock originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is estimated to be between 715 and 810 million years old.
The fossilized remains of mycelium, a network of interconnected microscopic strands, were discovered in these ancient rocks. This finding sheds light on the evolution of fungi and their role in the early history of life on Earth. Bonneville suggests that these microscopic mushrooms may have been important partners for the first plants that colonized the Earth's surface around 500 million years ago.
The origin and evolution of the kingdom Fungi, or mushrooms, remain largely mysterious. Only 2% of mushroom species have been identified, and their delicate nature makes fossilization rare. The oldest confirmed mushroom fossil before this discovery was 460 million years old. However, some studies have estimated the arrival of fungal organisms to be even earlier, between 760 and 1060 million years ago.
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Humans are more closely related to mushrooms than plants
Mushrooms, or fungi, are more closely related to humans than to plants. While mushrooms may look quite different from humans, we share more genetic traits with mushrooms than with plants. Humans share about a quarter of their active genes with mushrooms, with some sources claiming that the figure is as high as 50%. This is because mushrooms and humans evolved from ancestors engaged in multicellularity over a billion years ago. Mushrooms branched off on their evolutionary path but still retain genetic DNA remnants from our shared origins.
On a molecular level, we share a kinship with mushrooms. Like humans, many mushrooms have developed powerful medicinal properties. Varieties such as reishi, lion's mane, and chaga are renowned adaptogens that can boost immunity, fight tumours, lower inflammation, and support brain health. Research is ongoing, but studies have found that mushrooms help alleviate conditions like anxiety and depression.
Mushrooms also form vital symbiotic relationships with plant roots through their mycelial networks. Via a process called mycorrhizal association, mushrooms trade nutrients with plants for carbohydrates. This subterranean web allows information and resources to flow between diverse species across vast underground territories. In a sense, mushrooms act as nature's internet. Our social bonds and communion with each other and the natural world mirror mushrooms' capacity to connect disparate life forms through cooperative networks.
Many ancient cultures revered mushrooms for their psychedelic compounds and ability to induce dreamlike states conducive to spiritual exploration. Today, research on psilocybin and other hallucinogenic mushroom compounds shows promise for treating mental health issues and facilitating psychological growth.
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The word 'mushroom' may be derived from the French word 'mousseron'
The word "mushroom" has a complex etymology that may be traced back to the French word "mousseron," which refers to moss or mousse. The word first appeared in English in the 15th and 16th centuries with various spellings, including "mushrom, "muscheron, "mousheroms, "mussheron, and "musserouns." The term "mushroom" was initially applied to a wide range of larger fungi but eventually became associated specifically with agaricoid fungi, particularly edible varieties.
The standard definition of "mushroom" refers to the cultivated white button mushroom, "Agaricus bisporus." However, the term also encompasses other gilled fungi, both with and without stems, within the Basidiomycota and Agaricomycetes families. These fungi produce microscopic spores on their gills, which contribute to their spread across surfaces. The gills' structure and the spores' colour, shape, and size are crucial for mushroom identification.
The word "toadstool," which first appeared in 14th-century England, is often associated with poisonous mushrooms. However, it is important to note that the delineation between edible and poisonous fungi is not always clear-cut, and some mushrooms may be unpalatable or inedible. The identification of mushrooms requires an understanding of their macroscopic and microscopic structures, including the presence of juices, odors, colours, and growth patterns.
The cultivation and foraging of mushrooms have certain environmental implications. While some farming operations aim for sustainability, wild mushroom foraging can have negative impacts due to littering, plant trampling, and over-foraging beyond state regulations. Additionally, conventional commercial cultivation may involve the use of pesticides.
The history of mushrooms extends back to prehistoric times, with archaeological evidence suggesting their use as early as 10,000 BCE. Mushrooms have played a role in various cultures, including the Ancient Greeks, Mayans, and Vikings, and have been valued for their hallucinogenic and spiritual properties. Today, mushrooms are a common food item, with hundreds of edible species consumed worldwide.
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Mushrooms can be cultivated or foraged
Mushrooms, the fleshy spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, can be cultivated or foraged. Hundreds of edible mushroom species are consumed today, and they have probably been foraged since prehistoric times.
Mushroom cultivation, or fungiculture, can yield foods, medicines, construction materials, and other products. Mushrooms are cultivated in caves or windowless buildings to control light, temperature, and humidity while excluding contaminants and pests. This enables consistent production, regulated by spawning cycles. For example, shiitake mushrooms are cultivated by inoculating 1-meter hardwood logs with the mycelium of the shiitake fungus. The logs are then soaked in water for 24 hours, after which the mushrooms begin to fruit and can be harvested once fully ripe.
Shiitake mushrooms are also often foraged from the wild, as are chicken of the woods and lion's mane mushrooms. Foraging has the advantage of providing a wider range of flavors, colors, and textures than cultivated mushrooms. However, foraging can be dangerous, as many mushroom species are poisonous. Furthermore, the rise in popularity of wild harvesting has led to environmental concerns, such as littering, trampling plants, and over-foraging.
Whether cultivated or foraged, mushrooms have a long history in human culture. Archaeological evidence of mushrooms used "spiritually" dates back to as early as 10,000 BCE, and they have been documented in the cultures of the Ancient Greeks, Mayans, and Vikings. The first reference to mushrooms in a U.S. cookbook was in 1824's "The Virginia House-Wife."
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are part of the fungi family, which is an entire kingdom of its own, separate from plants.
Some common mushrooms that are part of the fungi family include portobellos, shiitake, chanterelle, and horn-of-plenty mushrooms.
Mushrooms are the fruit body of fungi, and they produce spores to help the fungus spread.
Mushrooms have gills that produce microscopic spores, and they can be identified by their macroscopic structure. They also have a short lifespan and are reliant on external food sources for energy.
Mushrooms have been consumed and used for various purposes throughout history. They are estimated to have evolved on Earth between 715 and 810 million years ago, and some species are even bioluminescent!
